-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police and neighbors were searching for three young Michigan boys Saturday who have been missing since their father claimed he dropped them off with a woman before trying to kill himself a day earlier .

The father survived his suicide attempt and is being cared for in a mental health facility , said Morenci , Michigan , Police Chief Larry Weeks on Saturday .

But Michigan authorities do not know what has happened to his boys -- 5-year-old Tanner Skelton , 7-year-old Alexander William Skelton and 9-year-old Andrew Skelton -- prompting them to issue an Amber Alert on Friday .

Weeks said that the boys ' father , John Skelton , told police that he dropped the boys off Friday morning with a woman he identified as Joann Taylor -- in part to ensure they did n't see him while and after he tried to commit suicide .

John Skelton told police that the woman , whom he allegedly met on the internet , was supposed to drop the boys off at their home in Morenci , a southern Michigan town of about 2,400 people about 40 miles west-northwest of Toledo , around 3 p.m. Friday .

But the boys never went home and , Weeks added , authorities still are n't sure if John Skelton 's story -- including Joann Taylor 's existence -- is true or a fabrication .

`` We have not been able to locate a Joann Taylor or confirm that she even exists , '' Weeks told reporters Saturday evening .

The last non-family member saw the boys at 5 p.m. on Thursday , according to the chief .

Their mother , Tanya , has been with police `` virtually the entire day '' on Saturday , answering questions and serving as what Weeks called a `` valuable resource at this time . ''

Weeks said Tanya Skelton had `` contact with someone alleging to be Joann , '' adding only that this communication was not necessarily by phone or in person .

According to the Amber Alert , Taylor may have been from Jackson or Hillsdale counties and may be driving a silver van . Still , Weeks reiterated that they have yet to confirm she is real and , if so , if she is with the boys .

Saturday 's press conference was crowded with media and residents of Morenci , many of whom have been searching for the young boys . Dozens spent Saturday searching along Bean Creek , Wakefield Park and the Riverside Natural Area -- all in Morenci -- according to Toledo-based CNN affiliate WUPW .

`` We just hope they 're somewhere safe and warm playing video games , '' volunteer Carol Garcia told WUPW .

But authorities thus far have offered few tips pointing community members to places where the young Skeltons might be .

`` We understand their drive and desire to be out there , '' said Weeks . `` The fact is , I can not tell the community there 's a specific location they should be searching . ''

The alert notes that Tanner is 3 feet , 6 inches tall , has strawberry blond hair , has blue eyes and weighs about 40 pounds . Alexander is 3 feet , 9 inches tall , has brown hair and eyes , weighs about 45 pounds and has scars on his hairline and chin . The oldest brother , Andrew , is 4 feet , 1 inch tall , has brown hair and eyes and weighs roughly 57 pounds .

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NEW : Dozens have searched for three missing boys along Michigan-Ohio border

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An Amber Alert is out for three boys -- ages 5 , 7 and 9 -- who were last seen Friday

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The boy 's father told police he left the boys with a woman he 'd met on the internet

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Police still do n't know if the father 's story is true or whether the woman he mentions is real